Odoo's journey began as TinyERP, then evolved into OpenERP, and today it stands strong as Odoo, a powerful suite of business applications used by companies worldwide.
Throughout this journey, one of the most noticeable improvements has been in the User Interface (UI). From a clunky, developer-centric UI to a sleek and modern experience tailored for business users, Odoo has consistently raised the bar.
Let’s take a look at some of the major UI enhancements introduced in key versions:
Odoo 8: The First Step Towards Modern UI
- Odoo 8 was the first version to introduce a fully web-based interface.
- The focus shifted from being just an ERP to a suite of business applications.
- A new Kanban view was introduced, making task and project management more visual and intuitive.
Odoo 10: Improved Responsiveness
- With Odoo 10, the UI became more responsive, supporting better usability across tablets and mobile devices.
- A cleaner layout and refined menu structure were introduced to help users navigate more easily.
- Keyboard shortcuts and quick actions helped speed up data entry and navigation.
Odoo 13: The Dark Mode Buzz
- One of the community’s favorite updates was the introduction of dark mode (via Studio and themes).
- Icons and fonts were refreshed for a more modern look.
- The interface became more app-like, providing a smoother and faster user experience.
Odoo 15: A Significant UI Leap
- Odoo 15 came with performance optimizations that drastically improved load times.
- A more compact view for list and form views was introduced to help users handle more data in less space.
- Enhanced widgets and dynamic fields added interactivity and reduced clicks.
Odoo 17: A Game-Changing Redesign
- Odoo 17 introduced a brand new design system.
- Side navigation replaced the top bar for improved usability and a better mobile experience.
- The UI became more consistent across all apps, and the dark/light mode toggle was refined.
- The whole platform felt more fluid, with drag-and-drop functionality, better modals, and a more intuitive flow.
With every release, Odoo not only improves performance and features but also listens to the community’s feedback to make the user experience smoother and more delightful. As we look ahead to future releases like Odoo 19, we can expect even more enhancements focused on accessibility, personalization, and speed.
The UI is not just about aesthetics, it's about empowering users to do more with less effort. And in that regard, Odoo has made some incredible progress.